Smoke-consumer.



l Patented nec. 25, |900.l l

.1. F. LEST'EIL sMpKE consumen. (Appliclfion led mt. 19, Iwo.)

2 sheets-sneer (No Model.)

No. 664,485. Patented uw. 25, 1900.-

` J. F. LESTER.

SMOKE CUNSUMEB. (Application ld Mar. 19, 1900.) (No Model.) Zheeta-Sheet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JAMES F. LESTER, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

SMOKE-CONSUMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,485, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed March 19, 1900. Serial Nn. 9,323. (No model.)

.T all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JAMES F. LESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia,

have invented a new and useful Smoke-Consumer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvementsin smokeconsumers,and more especially to that 1o class wherein the consumer proper is capable of being adjusted to fire-boxes of boilers, furnaces, or any heating medium wherein the gaseous smoke is not entirely consumed.

The prime object and purpose of my invention is to provide an apparatus which may be placed Within a fire-box and supported directly over the fire, so as to direct all the products of combustion through a series of superheated fines wherein a suitable supply of air 2o is admitted and mixed with the product, which action causes the gases veliminating from the fuel to be mixed and ignited.

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus `having therein an airchamber from which a series of air-fines lead to respective combustion-product flues, providing thoroughly-heated air to -the escaping products and igniting the gases before they escape to the chimney.

3o A further object of myinvention is to provide an apparatus which can be adapted to coact with any fire-grate construction, so as to consume all the smoke-gases, in combination with an auxiliary or supplemental combustion-chamber, wherein the heat is disseminated and is directed to perform the function for which it has been created.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby a large proportion 4; of the gases which ordinarily become smoke are caused to ignite before they are converted into this state, and said gases which do become smoke are subjected to a continued mixing action with highly-heated air and are eventually consumed. 1

A further object of this invention is to provide a heatabsorbing block having therein a series of divergent exit combustion-fines, the smaller ends being adjacent the fire,

5o which allows the molecules of gases after they enter the ilues to separate to permit of a ready mixing action of introduced highly-heated air.

Many other objects and advantages Will be hereinafter referred to and be particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification, Figure l is a longitudinal section showing the application of my improvement to a tubular boiler of ordinary type. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the complete apparatus detached. Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing aslight modification. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing a slight modification of the arrangement of the Referring to the drawings, l indicates a tubular boiler of any well-known construction, provided with the usual fire-box 2, grate 3, and ash-pit Il.

In the practical application of my invention I prefer to construct the parts about to be described in sections; but for clearness of description and drawing a solid mass is shown having the various flues formed therein.

The numeral 5 represents the heat-absorbing block of my improved smoke-consumer, made up of some refractory material, preferably of a suitable composition of fire-clay and asbestos. This heat-absorbing block 5 is provided with suitable supporting-legs 6, designed to rest directly on the grate-bars 3, and is constructed on its under side and directly over the grate with a preferably concave, cavity 7. Extending up from and communicating with said concavity are a series of what I shall term combustion-fines 7a, the opposite ends of said flues enteringa supplemental combustion-chamber 8, which latter in the showing in the drawings is between the heat-absorbing block 5 and the end of the boiler.

For the sake of more readily directing the products of combustion to the chamber and at the saine time preventing as much as possible the overheating of the roof of the heatabsorbing block 5 the ues are curved toward the line of draft and diverge toward the bottom, as at 9, to allow the molecules of smoke and gas to separate and have free movement to better enable the mixing action with theadmitted heated air.

Within the upper portion of the heat-ab- IOO sorbing block 5 is an air-chamber 10, having an inlet 11, regulated by a damper 12, and at its rear it communicates with the supplemental combustion-chamber, as at I3. For the purpose of making this opening distinctive in the description and claims it will be hereinafter referred lto as the main exitopening 13. Tapered fines 14 connect this air-chamber 8 with the combustion-hues 7a, one or more of said lines 14 for each of the respective iiues 7 entering the latter at such a point from the main combustion-chamber as will best allow the heated oxygen to thoroughly mingle and mix with the escaping smoke-gas and give it ample time to ignite saidgas before it reaches the supplemental combustion-chamber.

From the foregoing it is thought the advantages and operation of the apparatus will be understood. The tire is made, as usual, on the grate, and as the products of combustion must enter the ilues 7L in their exit to the chimney the molecules of gas immediately commence to separate,whereupon the streams of heated air are introduced, and they in turn immediately begin a mixing action with the products of combustion, and by the time the two (now as one) reach the supplemental combustion-chamber all the gases have been ignited and nothing but the heat derived therefrom is directed to where'it is neededfor instance, as shown in the drawings-for steam generation.

It will be understood as the re is continued for awhile the whole apparatus becomes a thoroughly-heated body, and it is this feature, in connection with the arrangement of my lines, that enables me to obtain the desired results. The air Within the chamber becomes highly heated and in this condition is introduced to the various flues, when it meets the products with such force as to cause the two to mingle and mix, and the two being in this highly-heated condition the smokegases readily ignite. However, should there not be enough air introduced to the respective combustion-fines to ignite all the gasesL as they pass through such escaping gases Will be subjected to and mixed with a highlyheated supply of air introduced into the supplemental combustion-chamber through the main exit-opening 13.

As my improvement can be applied to all sorts of plants using tire where the smoke is not consumed, it will of course be understood that the supplemental combustion-chamber and the exact location of the lues entering therein will have to be directed thereto according to the existing conditions.

When my improvement is applied to locomotive-boilers or boilers of horizontal type, it is preferable that the combustion-lines be curved and be of variable lengths. For instance, by the arrangement shown-that is, the tlues curved and directed toward the line of draft-a greater velocity of air is obtained,

and the upper part of the heat-absorbing block and the boiler over the fire-box are pre vented from becoming so overheated as to render their use impracticable. The variation in size of the combustion-fines is another feature which prevents the overheating of the parts, as above described, and in addition thereto they tend to force the products into many different directions, owing to the variable lengths and their relative positions to the line of draft. lThis variation induces the air-currents to travel at different velocities,

which contact with each otherl and create a series of resistances, causing the molecules of gas to break, scatter, and be more susceptible to ignition.

I much prefer making the heat-absorbing block of the refractory material heretofore mentioned-z'. e., a composition of tire-clay and asbestos. However, any otherrefractory material may be employed which will withstand the heat and atthe same time not become glazed to stop up the flues.

Arranging the parts in such close proximity to the products of combustion enables the gases or a large proportion of them to be ignited before they are converted into smoke, thereby returning them. into their elementary condition. i Thisis brought about by the heated air being introduced to meet the gases almost immediately they commence to separate after they have been first broken by entering the combustion-tubes.

' In the modified form of my invention as disclosed in Fig. 5 the air is taken into the tubes directly from the atmosphere and is heated in its passage to the combustion-fines. While this construction is desirable underccrtain circumstances, I much prefer the air to be taken into the flues from a heated chamber, as shown and described. The arrangement of the air-fines may also be different than shown in the preferred form. For instance, the ues 14a feed a series of combustion-dues 7a instead of one for each respective flue. This change of introducing the air is susceptible to either the construction shown in Fig. l or that shown in Fig. 5.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a fire-box,and a heatabsorbing block, said block being provided on its Linder side with'. a cavity, a series of divergent combustion -iiues communicating with said cavity, and means for supplying air thereto, as set forth.

2. The combination of a fire-box, and a heatabsorbing block, said block' being provided with a series of divergent combustion-hues, and a series of tapered air-fines for supplying air Vto the combustion-fines, as set forth.

3. The combination of a fire-box, an airheating chamber, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-dues of variable lengths,

IOO

IIO

and a series of air-inlet flues connecting the air-heating chamber and the combustionilues, as set forth.

4. The combination of a fire-box, an airheating chamber, a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-fines, and means for supplying air to said combustion-fines from the said heating-chamber, as set forth.

5. The combination of a fire-box, a heatabsorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-lines and an air-heating chamber, and flues for supplying air to the combustion-fines from the air-chamber, as set forth.

6. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided on its under side with a cavity, a series of divergent combustion-fines communicating With the cavity and the supplemental combustioncham ber, as set forth.

7. The combination 0f a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a 'series of divergent combustion-dues communicating with the supplemental combustionchamber, and means for supplying air to said combustion-hues, as set forth.

8. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber,a heat-absorbing block, said block being` provided With a series of divergent combustion-lines communicating with the supplemental combustionchamber, and an air-heating chamber, means for supplying air to the chamber and means for supplying air to the flues from said chamber, as set forth.

9. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, means for supplying air to said chamber, a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-fines communicating With the supplemental combustion-chamber, and means for supplying air to the combustion-fines from the means for supplying air to the combustion-chamber, asset forth.

10. The combination of a fire-box, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustioniues of variable lengths, a heated-air chamber, and means foifsupplying air to the oombustion-fiues from said heated-air chamber, as set forth.

11. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, means for supplying air thereto, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-hues communicating with the supplemental combustion-chamber, an air-heating chamber and means for supplying air thereto, as set forth.

12. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided withp a cavity on its under side, a series of divergent combustion flues of variable lengths communicating with said cavity and the su pplemental combustion-chamber, an air-heating chamber, a series of flues connecting the air-heating chamber and the divergent combustion-lines, as set forth.

13. The combination of a lire-box, and a heat-absorbing block, `said block being provided Wth a series of divergent combustioniiues of variable lengths, an air-heating chamber located over the combustion-fines and means for supplying air to the combustioniiues from the air-chamber, as set forth.

14. The combination of a fire-box, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustioniues an air-heating chamber and means for supplying air to the combustion-fines from the air-chamber, as set forth.

15. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber and a heatabsorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-lines communicating with the supplemental combustion-chamber,and aIrair-heating chamber, said chamber communicating With the combustion-flues and the supplemental combustion-chamber, as set forth.

16. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, an air-heating chamber, means for regulating the supply of air to said chamber, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-fines commu- Ioow nicating With the supplemental combustion-J' chamber, and flues for supplying air to the combustion-fines and the supplemental combustion-chambersimultaneously, asset forth.

17. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, an air-heating chamber, said chamber communicating with the supplemental combustion-chamber, means for regulating the supply of air thereto, a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a cavity on its under side, a series of divergent combustion-dues communicating with the supplemental combustion-chamber, and a series of air-inlet flues for supplying air to the combustion-fines from the airheating chamber, as set forth.

18. The combination of a fire-box, a supplemental combustion-chamber, an air-heating chamber, said chamber communicating with the supplemental combustion-chamber, means for regulating the supply of air thereto, a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided With a cavity, a series of divergent combustion -flues of variable lengths communieating with the supplemental combustionchamber, and a series of air-inlet flues, as set forth.

19. The combination of a [ire-box, a heatabsorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-dues, means for supplying air to said flues, and means for regulating the supply of air, as set forth.

20. The combination of a fire-box, and a IIO heat-absorbing block, said block being pro- `vided With a series of curved combustion- 23. The combination of a fire-box, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a heated-air chamber, a cavity, a series of divergent curved combustion-fines, and air-fiues connecting the air-chamber and the combustion-fines, as set forth.

24. The combination of a tire-box, and a heat-absorbing block, said block being provided with a cavity on its under side, a series of divergent combustion fines of variable lengths communicating with the-cavity, and means for Supplying air' to said fines, as set forth.

25. The combination of a {ire-box, a suppiementalV combustion-chamber, an air-heating chamber having a contracted or tapered exit, said exit communicating with the supplemental combustion-chamber, and 'a heatabsorbing block, said block being provided with a series of divergent combustion-fines communicating with the supplemental combastion-chamber, and meansl for supplying air to said combustion-fines, as set forth.

JAS. F. LESTER.

Witnesses:

E. J. TRACEY, EDWARD DALE, Jr. 

